Friday 22 June 2001
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the amounts paid by each Board and Trust in litigation costs in each of the last three financial years for which figures are available.

(AQW 3269/00)

Ms de Brún: The amount paid by each Board and Trust in litigation costs from 1997-98 to 1999-2000 is shown in the table below (figures are not yet available for 2000-01):

Léirítear an méid ad’ íoc gach Bord agus Iontaobhas ar chostas dlíthíochta ó 1997/98 go dtí 1999/2000 sa tábla thíos (níl figiúirí réidh go fóill do 2000/01):Costais Sheirbhísí Dlí de réir Boird agus Iontaobhais 1997/98 – 1999/2000

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the amounts paid out in tribunal costs by each Board and Trust since 31 March 2000.

(AQW 3270/00)

Ms de Brún: The amount of money paid out by each Board and Trust as a result of Industrial Tribunal awards and settlements, for the range of cases shown, for the year ending on 31 March 2001 is shown below.

Léirítear thíos méid an airgid a íochta ag gach Bord mar thoradh ar Chúiteamh Bhinse Tionsclaíocha agus socruithe, do réimse na gcásanna léirithe, don bhiain ag críochnú ar 31 Márta 2001.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the progress made on her action plan to reduce waiting lists.

(AQW 3271/00)

Ms de Brún: The Framework for Action on Waiting Lists, which I issued in September last, set out a strategic context for action to reduce waiting lists. As a result, comprehensive plans have been drawn up by Boards and Trusts covering the action they will be taking to tackle waiting lists. These include measures such as:

• the appointment of a senior officer with responsibility for waiting lists;
• waiting list target reductions;
• the provision of additional hospital inpatient procedures, particularly in relation to those patients who have been waiting longest;
• the validation of waiting lists; and
• the development of GP referral protocols.

An extra £5 million was allocated last year to support the implementation of these plans and an additional £8 million has been allocated for 2001-2002.

Leag an Chreatlach le haghaidh Gníomhaíochta ar Liostaí Feithimh’ a d’eisigh mé i mí Mheán Fómhair anuraidh, comhthéacs straitéiseach amach do ghníomh le liostaí feithimh a laghdú. Mar thoradh ar sin, dhréachtaigh Boird agus Iontaobhais pleananna cuimsitheacha ag cur in iúl na gníomhaiochta a dhéanfaidh siad le tabhairt faoi liostaí feithimh. I measc na mbeart seo tá:

• Ceapadh oifigigh shinsearaigh le freagracht as liostaí feithimh;
• Sprioc do laghduithe i liostaí feithimh;
• Soláthar gnáthamh breise otharlainne d’othair chónaitheacha, go háirithe do na hothair sin a bhí ag fanacht níos faide;
• Daingniú liostaí feithimh; agus
• Forbairt prótacal atreoraithe gnáthdhochtúirí.
• Dáileadh £5 milliún breise anuraidh le tacú le cur i bhfeidhm na bpleananna seo agus dáileadh £8 milliún breise do 2001/2002.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 2922/00, to detail (a) the reasons why some of the recommendations are partially implemented, (b) the hospitals affected as a result of the recommendations not being fully implemented and (c) the proposed timescale for full implementation.

(AQW 3274/00)

(a) Some of the recommendations made by the Chief Medical Officer in her report of February 2000 required longer-term actions which are still being implemented. In relation to the recruitment and retention of appropriately trained consultant and other medical and nursing staff, for example, some Trusts have experienced difficulties.

(b) All hospitals providing intensive care and high-dependency services are affected.

(c) All the recommendations made by the Chief Medical Officer are due to be fully implemented by March 2004.

(a) Bhí gníomhartha níos fadtéarmaí atá á gcur i bhfeidhm go fóill de dhíth ar roinnt de na moltaí a mhol an Príomh-Oifigeach Leighis ina tuairisc i mí Feabhra 2000. Maidir le hearcú agus le coinneáil lianna comhairleacha agus foirne altrachta agus leighis eile oilte i gceart, mar shampla, bhí deacrachtaí ag roinnt Iontaobhas.

(b) Tá baint acu le gach uile otharlann ag soláthar seirbhísí dianchúraim agus ardspleáchais.

(c) Tá na moltaí uile a rinne an Príomh-Oifigeach Leighis le cur i bhfeidhm faoi Mhárta 2004.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the steps she is taking to reduce waiting times for each specialty and surgical procedure.

(AQW 3275/00)

Ms de Brún: I refer the member to the answer for AQW 3271/00.

Tarraingim aird an Chomhalta ar an fhreagra a thug mé ar AQW 3271/00.

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